Xifres de comerç exterior de Moçambic

Foreign Trade in Figures

Mozambique is open to foreign trade, which represents more than 106% of the country's GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to data from Comtrade, in 2023, the country’s main exports comprised coal (21.3%), petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons (20.9%), unwrought aluminium (13.2%), electrical energy (8.0%), and coke and semi-coke of coal, lignite or peat (5.6%); whereas imports were led by petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous (16.4%), fluorides; fluorosilicates, fluoroaluminates (3.8%), rice (3.5%), wheat and meslin (2.8%), and motor vehicles for the transport of goods (2.6%). Revenues from natural gas and electricity exports rose by USD 1,184.1 million and USD 87.2 million, respectively. In contrast, income from aluminium, mineral coal, and heavy sands exports dropped by 33.1%, 22%, and 8.4%, respectively (data Central Bank).

The country's main customers in 2023 were India (15.6%), China (14.2%), South Africa (14.0%), South Korea (5.6%), and the United Kingdom (4.8%); while the main suppliers were South Africa (23.2%), China (15.4%), the United Arab Emirates (10.3%), India (8.0%), and Singapore (6.1% - Comtrade). Mozambique is a member of the WTO and of the South African Development Community (SADC), and has signed trade agreements with Malawi and Zimbabwe. In February 2018, Mozambique joined the EU–SADC EPA that was signed in June 2016 by Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. The country also signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Customs duties remain high and there are numerous non-tariff barriers in the country (such as slow customs clearance procedures).

Mozambique's trade balance is negative and is expected to remain so until exports of coal and gas to Asia develop further.  In 2023, the country exported USD 8.2 billion, importing 10.1 billion (stable and -31.1% year-on-year, respectively, as the high import figure in 2022 was driven by the arrival of the Coral Sul FLNG floating platform). As per services, exports reached USD 1 billion against USD 2.1 billion in imports (data WTO). The World Bank estimated the country’s trade balance to be negative by 15.1% of GDP in 2023, from 35.6% the previous year. According to preliminary figures from the Central Bank, from January to September 2024, Mozambique's goods exports generated USD 6.1 billion, marking an increase of USD 218 million compared to the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, the goods import bill decreased by 1.7%, reaching USD 6.4 billion.